Florence Baptistery

The Florence Baptistery or Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of St. John) is a religious building in Florence, Italy, which has the status of a minor basilica. The octagonal Baptistery stands in both the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza di San Giovanni, across from the Duomo cathedral and the Giotto bell tower. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city, built between 1059 and 1128. The architecture is in Florentine Romanesque style.

Oh, and the exteriors of the Baptistery and the Duomo next to it are incredibly filthy. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but both are streaked with dirt, grime, and soot. The marble would naturally be gleaming white with bright green trim. They are slowly cleaning the surfaces, but I suspect it's like painting a bridge, when they get done, it's time to start over.